News » Bethany College

WICHITA, Kan. -- The Bethany College football team has been picked to finish seventh in the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference in the 2015 season in both the coaches' and media polls. The polls were conducted and announced at the end of the annual KCAC Football Media Day held at the Hotel at Old Town in Wichita.

Friends University, Ottawa University and Tabor College were the favorites in both polls. Ottawa took the first place vote in the coaches' poll gaining eight first place votes. The Blue Jays were voted second in both polls and had votes for first place in both polls. Friends was voted third by the coaches, but jumped to first place in the media poll with nine first place votes.

Sterling College was slated to finish fourth in both polls, while Kansas Wesleyan University and the University of Saint Mary each held the fifth and sixth place positions in one of the polls. The Swedes held the seventh place vote in both polls while McPherson College, Southwestern College, and Bethel College were in the final three spots in both polls.

Bethany is coming off a 7-4 season and 5-4 in the KCAC and have reloaded, bringing in nearly 70 new recruits. The Swedes also revealed their new-look helmets. After a short stint with silver helmets, the coaching staff decided to bring back the traditional gold helmets.

Head coach Paul Hubbard is looking to bring back the rich Bethany football tradition and to change a culture with the Swedes. At one point in his interview, Hubbard said, "We're going to be built off of character and discipline."

The Swedes will start off the season by traveling to Houston Baptist University on September 5 at 7:00 pm. Bethany will welcome Langston University in their home opener the following weekend on September 12, before they open KCAC play on the road in North Newton at Bethel College.

LINDSBORG, Kan. - The Swedes are entering their first season under Head Coach Paul Hubbard. Hubbard takes over after a two year stint by Manny Matsakis. The Swedes were 2-9 the first season and jumped to 7-4 a year ago.

With a new staff, Hubard will have a tough task of meshing new talent to replace key losses, while focusing existing players on one goal. Fortunately for the new coaching staff, the Swedes retained some top players from last year's talented roster.

"We have a strong core of players returning. Our returning players' importance is not only on the field with their playing ability, but more importantly through their leadership. We have a specific way of doing things at Bethany and it is very important for the returners to show the newcomers the way," said coach Hubbard.

Jasaan Eley and Nile Daniel are back to lead the Bethany offensive attack. Eley led the Swedes rushing game with 4.6 yards per carry, 760 rushing, and eight touchdowns. Daniel hauled in four touchdowns and nearly 300 yards on just 21 catches. The Swedes will also have experienced signal callers in Bo Savage and Virgil Bridges. The two combined for nearly 700 yards through the air, 150 yards rushing, and four touchdowns.

Bethany also returns important pieces on the defensive side of the ball as well as in their special teams. Tayler Stull was sixth on the team in tackles while playing in just seven games. Chris Washington and Micah Collins will play a big role in stopping the run game after combining for 14 tackles for loss and four sacks.

Bethany will also return both kickers, Brett Crome and Adam Maisch. Crome had 43 punts last season, which tallied 1,627 for an average of 38 yards per kick. He holds the Bethany and KCAC record for longest punt of 84 yards. Maisch was third in scoring last season with 49 points on five field goals and 34 extra points.

The Swedes will lose the leadership of their middle linebacker Steven Williams, who graduated after last season. Bethany will look to sure up their back end after losing Trevor Smith and Jarrot Bell as well. Smith recorded 55 tackles and had two interceptions, while Bell led the team with three interceptions and also recorded 36 tackles.

Bethany will welcome new faces such as freshman linebacker Mickey Farnham and defensive back Keondre Woods. The Swedes will also look for an impact on the offensive side of the ball from junior transfers Rodrick Haynes, offensive line, and Anthony Jackson, wide receiver.

"Our staff is very optimistic for the upcoming season. We feel that our success will be a direct result of the hard work the coaches and players have put in for preparation for the season. It will be a season of peaks and valleys, but that is no different from any season. The only way to be ultimately successful through the trials and tribulations is through hard work, discipline, the drive to stay the course, and the character of our team," later added Hubbard. "Our playing goals will never change from working to win the next game and the long term goal of competing for championships. Although we will change our game plan for each opponent, our demeanor will never falter from being a team of hardnosed football players, that will out-work and out-tough our opponents."

Bethany was voted to finish seventh in the Media and Coaches' poll at the KCAC Media day held in Wichita last week. The Swedes will open their season on the road at Houston Baptist University on September 5 at 7:00 pm. Bethany will welcome Langston University in their home opener the following weekend on September 12, before they open KCAC play on the road in North Newton at Bethel College.